New collector pitfalls

[Kyrie]

Hi Bill,


I must strongly (and cordially) disagree with your comment, "One thing we should be able to agree upon as collectors/historians/shooters/Luger lovers is the difference, and it is significant, between all matching serial numbers and 100% original."


In Luger collecting originality is demonstrated by matching numbers. That's the only value to a collector of matching numbers. It is also the only value matching numbers has to a shooter - it shows all the parts have been correctly fitted to each other and the pistol is functional. In "collector speak", "matching" is a verbal shorthand for "all original".


"Matching" dos not preclude a pistol from having been repaired in service, or from having parts replaced during that process, and it is frequently possible to recognize a Luger where this has been done. If the repair was something serious, the pistol would require re-proof and a second proof mark will appear on barrel, barrel extension, and breechblock. If only two out of three of these parts have the second proof mark, we can identify the part with only one proof mark as the replaced part


Best regards,


Kyrie